According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.27 square miles (16.24 km2), of which, 6.22 square miles (16.11 km2) is land and 0.05 square miles (0.13 km2) is water.[1]

Scottsbluff has a semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classificationBSk), with wide seasonal and day-to-day variation as well as a large diurnal temperature variation, and is located in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 5.[8] Summers are hot, and winters dry and cold, though chinook winds can loosen the cold's grip, often bringing temperatures above 50 °F (10 °C). The monthly daily average temperature ranges from 26.1 °F (−3.3 °C) in January to 74.1 °F (23.4 °C) in July. Over the course of a year, there is an average 4.2 days with 100 °F (38 °C)+ highs, 43 with 90 °F (32 °C)+ highs, and 13 with sub-0 °F (−18 °C) lows.[9] Precipitation is heavily concentrated in the spring and summer months. Snow typically falls in light amounts, with a 1981−2010 seasonal average of 42 inches (110 cm). Extremes in temperature have ranged from 110 °F (43 °C) on 11 July 1939, down to −45 °F (−43 °C) on 12 February 1899. The year 1989 saw temperatures as extreme as 109 °F (43 °C) and −42 °F (−41 °C).[10]

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 15,039 people, 6,168 households, and 3,672 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,417.8 inhabitants per square mile (933.5/km2). There were 6,712 housing units at an average density of 1,079.1 per square mile (416.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 83.0% White, 0.8% African American, 3.4% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 9.8% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 29.1% of the population.

There were 6,168 households of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.7% were married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.5% were non-families. 34.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 3.04.

The median age in the city was 36 years. 24.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.8% were from 25 to 44; 23.7% were from 45 to 64; and 16.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.6% male and 52.4% female.

According to a 2009 article in Quality Health entitled 10 Fattest Cities in America, 31% of Scottsbluff's population is obese, making it the 7th fattest city in America.[15]

There were 6,088 households out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.7% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.9% were non-families. 32.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the city the population was spread out with 26.5% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 87.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.1 males.

As of 2000 the median income for a household in the city was $29,938, and the median income for a family was $37,778. Males had a median income of $30,307 versus $20,854 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,065. About 14.5% of families and 18.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.5% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.